The Thing About Life Is...

I've been pondering many things in my life lately. What's in my life, who's in my life, where am I going with my life, what do I do for others with my life...It's so easy for Mom's to look around the house and not be satisfied with their cleaning, the pile of laundry on the laundry room floor, the kids need baths, dishes in the sink, and then to sit and think "I'm so tired! I don't know how any of this is going to get done!" Then hubby comes in the door from a long days work, wants a shower, dinner and to sit down with a few minutes to himself. GREAT! It's also so easy for Mom's to feel last on the totem pole. "Hello Honey- I'm glad you're home and you need a moment to yourself- but I need YOU! When is someone going to take care of me?!" And then somehow Mom gets this guilty feeling that there's still one more person in the house who needs tending to, and that's just what she was made for- and she gets this gusto of energy and she pulls a little more out to give of herself for a couple more hours before she can fall face first into her pillow and zonk out till someone cries in the middle of the night and needs her again. 

And then she gets to do it all again the next day. 

And she doesn't mind really--- because she waited her whole life to get to wipe that runny nose and kiss that little boo-boo. And she doesn't complain about the dishes when she's cleaning tiny forks and sippy cups or folding little socks and singing her way through a zillion alphabet letters she's finding underneath the couch. And as she's putting away the ten thousandth book she comes across the photo album- the one that boasts of the day she brought him into the world- the sunrise the morning he was born, she sees it again as if it's the first time. And she remembers how that tiny face used to fit in her hand and just today he pointed in the sky and tried to say "bird" and then ran off to catch a ball and throw some rocks. She wipes away a tear or two, sniffles, puts the album in the bin and breathes a breath of achievement. No amount of clutter and dust could make her feel any less empowered. She is a Mommy. Forever.

So then I thought: the thing about life is that it never stays the same. It changes constantly and you'd better keep an eye out because you will miss it! Those flowers that were just in full bloom are now cut down. Those shoes that Baby used to wear, they're in the storage bin in the basement. That 1st birthday came and went. And what matters most, isn't the clothes we buy, the shoes we wear, the luxurious vacations we take- life is about living! And never wanting it to stay the same. Don't hang onto the past- live and love wherein you are- because all too quickly it's over...

The thing about life is that you only get one chance to love. Then you die. So I had better start loving as much and as deeply as I can. And you know what I found? It doesn't hurt me anymore to do so. It makes me feel like I have a purpose. I'm needed, see, because someone else just couldn't possibly love my husband and kids the way I do. That's why I'm here. I know God loves His children just the way I love mine, but even more. I hope to love as closely as God love us. 

And the other thing about life is it teaches you everything you need to know if you let it. It teaches you how to be selfless, loving, patient, compassionate, grateful, faithful and hopeful. If you watch carefully the wise people around you, you will see that sparkle in their eye- that trophy of experience and a life that was lived to it's fullest! Try and look for the glitter in the eye of an elderly person the next time they smile your way. It's almost as if they're saying, "you've got it right, gril! Love those babies with everything you got and enjoy the best friend you'll ever have sleeping right by your side, because one day- one of you may not be there anymore." And then that twinkle will flicker out as quickly as you saw it. 

So remember to LIVE everyday. Because the thing about life is it's over almost as quickly as it began.